Fighting the quiet fight

It is interesting to note how people can have selective memories. I take the case of Justin Merritt, who is a member of the council of Rankin Inlet and suggests in a letter to the editor (“Opposed to move of PPD jobs to Baker Lake” Jan. 3) that I should speak out on the issue of the Petroleum Products Division’s move to Baker Lake.

I do not feel the need to do all my fighting for Rankin through the media and have largely confined my objections to the proposed PPD move to the Cabinet room, other than the letter to Premier Paul Okalik of Sept. 25, 2002, I wrote jointly with Manitok Thompson, MLA for Rankin South, of which Merritt was in receipt (as acknowledged by our conversation on Jan. 6, 2003).

Perhaps Merritt would prefer to see my name in the headlines objecting to the move, but I have always felt that as an Inuk I would prefer to do things quietly but effectively.

The letter of September to the Premier is quite self explanatory and spells out the very real concerns that I and the staff of PPD had with regard to the move.

Jack Anawak
MLA Rankin Inlet North